Outstanding All-Round Student

Presented to an Aboriginal/and or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and excellence across a range of activities, including attendance, leadership, academic commitment and progress, community service, cultural commitments, and a positive attitude to school.

Outstanding Academic Excellence

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding academic excellence in any curriculum area in 2024 and who have displayed a positive attitude to school and a commitment to their future.

Outstanding Student Leadership

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated exceptional skills in promoting, encouraging, and supporting student participation across their school and in their community.

Outstanding Achievement in Public Speaking

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated exemplary skills in public speaking. The award recognises Aboriginal students’ ability to speak with authority and confidence and the ability to maintain audience interest.

Outstanding Achievement in Performing/Creative/Visual Arts

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding talent and application in the performing, creative or visual arts.

Outstanding Achievement in Sport

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has represented their school and community, demonstrated fairness, integrity, and outstanding achievement in sport.

NSW Department of Education Outstanding School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has maintained outstanding commitment, effort, and application in completing their School Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship, which includes high application to a workplace training and VET course, alongside their HSC.

NSW Department of Education Outstanding VET in Schools Student of the Year

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, commitment, effort and application to completing their VET and HSC commitments.

Outstanding HSC Achievement Award

The Outstanding HSC Achievement Award recognises the highest ATAR result in 2023 by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student.

Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by an Aboriginal Staff Member

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employee of the NSW Department of Education who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students, their families, and communities.

Outstanding Contribution to Early Educational Achievement by an Aboriginal Staff Member

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employee within the NSW Early Education and Care sector who delivers authentic, culturally responsive care for Aboriginal students, showing outstanding commitment to improving educational outcomes for students, their families, and communities.

Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by a Non-Aboriginal Staff Member

Presented to a non-Aboriginal or non-Torres Strait Islander employee of the NSW Department of Education who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students and a commitment to working with Aboriginal students, their families, and communities.

Outstanding Leadership in Aboriginal Education

Presented to an NSW Department of Education employee who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and capacity building among staff, schools and the school community and an ongoing commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students.

Outstanding Leadership in Aboriginal Languages

Presented to an NSW Department of Education employee who has demonstrated strong commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students through the implementation of a school Aboriginal languages program.

Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by a Non-School Based Staff Member

Presented to a non-school based employee of the NSW Department of Education who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the well-being and educational achievements of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.

Outstanding Early Education and Care Service

Presented to a service that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to creating a respectful and culturally responsive learning environment for students, staff, families, and their local Aboriginal communities.

Outstanding Contribution to Educational Achievement by an Aboriginal Community Member

Presented to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community member who has contributed significantly to the successful educational achievement of Aboriginal students.

Outstanding School and Community Partnership

Presented to a school that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to respectful and productive partnerships with students, staff, parents, and their local Aboriginal communities.

Outstanding Commitment to Increasing Knowledge and Understanding of Aboriginal Histories, Culture and Experiences of Aboriginal People

Presented to a school or a community of schools that have demonstrated a strong commitment to establishing a culture of respect, caring and inclusive teaching practices which recognise, value, and meet the diverse needs of Aboriginal students.